An excursion to: Cala Tuent, the heart of the Tramutana mountain range and the Lluc Monastery.

To locate Cala Tunte, we must first speak about Escorca, the town where this beautiful cove is to be found. The municipality of Escorca has a surface area of 140.32 km², and the population in the last census in 1997 was 301 inhabitants. The tallest mountains in Majorca are also within the municipal area: Puig Major: 1.443 m., Piug de Massanella: 1.352 m, Puig Tomir: 1.103 m and Puig Roig: 1.003 m.

It is located 47 km from the capital of the island of Majorca. Its villages are Lluc and Sa Calobra and the name given to the inhabitants is ‘lluquer o lluquera’. This municipality is known for the beauty of the geographic location which allows interesting festive events to be held such as the Torrent de Pareis Concert which is held every year because of the excellent acoustics of this place surrounded by the walls of the Torrent de Pareis, every second Sunday, every summer, simply magnificent given the magnitude and incomparable beauty of the surrounding areas. Among the many festivities is the one held on 10th August to commemorate the crowning of Our Lady of Lluc (Patron Saint of Majorca), but it is on 12th September when the biggest religious celebration to honour Majorca's Patron Saint, the Lluc Virgin is held.

A perfect excursion which can be done in one day is to visit the Lluc Monastery and Cala Tuent. Here we present two ideas for you to get to know this small but enchanting municipality: The excursion to Cala Tuent is typical wherever that is possible, but it is well worth coining this cliché because of the cove's beauty, found at the foot of the Tramutana mountain range, this excursion can be complemented with a visit to Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis, which we have also recommended in this portal in 'other news'.

Cala Tuent is one of the most interesting and beautiful virgin coves on the island. A little after starting out on our journey we pass in front of the Sant Llorenç church which dates back to the time of the Catalonian conquest of the island (approx. 1200). The view from this church is spectacular and it is well worth making a short stop to enjoy it. The most beautiful part of Cala Tuent is along the shoreline where there is an old ‘possessió’ (large house) surrounded by olive trees with a beautiful shingly beach at its foot. It is a rural construction which is reminiscent of the fishing life of the families who lived in this area of the island.

For lovers of peace and quiet, Cala Tuent is the perfect destination with an ideal ambience, the splendour of this Mediterranean beauty spot offers a thousand and one ways to continue your visit to this part of the Tramutana mountain range.

Lluc Monastery: Beginning your holiday on the island in Lluc is like reaching the soul of the island, getting here implies a touristic spirit, a spirit of intentions, of mind, of depth. It is the spiritual centre of the island. The sanctuary has traditionally been visited by all the islanders to honour their patron Saint since the 13th Century (in 1246 there was already mention of a chapel dedicated to ‘Mare de Déu de Lluc’). The Lluc monastery stands alone, 400 meters above sea level, surrounded by the mountains. Founded in the 13th Century, it has undergone various transformations over the years. It is an old Augustine property and is nowadays inhabited by the congregation of the previously mentioned missionaries, they manage the school for musical studies and liturgical singing. The image of the Black Virgin, patron saint of Majorca, is kept at the monastery and legend has it that in the year 1208 the statue was found hidden among the rocks by a monk and a shepherd who took it to a nearby church. During the night the statue disappeared and it was again found where it had been found originally. All attempts to put it in a safe place were in vain because the statue would miraculously return to the place where it had first been found.

The inhabitants therefore decided to build a chapel at that spot, the origin of the present day monastery, the objective of solemn pilgrims from all points of the island where the islanders dedicate their pilgrimage on foot from one point on island to the top of the mountain to pay homage to their patron saint. The statue wears a crown containing 22 diamonds, 25 emeralds and another 25 rubies and more than 600 pearls which was given to the Virgin at the end of the last century.

The Lluc Monastery and its surrounding areas are, without doubt, the most important cultural heritage in the Tramutana Mountain range and it has been so since long before it became a place of Christian religion worship. Ramon Ballester states that Lluc was already a sacred place of worship and pilgrimage in Roman times when it was a sacred thicket or wood.

Access to Cala Tuent: It can accessed via the Sa Calobra road, turning off two kilometres before the end. A long winding 4.5 km road starts at this point which goes past the Sant Llorenç church and ends up at the beach which also be reached on foot from Sa Costera. To rent a car, you can visit our page Web about Car rental.